Kazumi Saito
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese professional baseball player. starting pitcher
for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
. He is a two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award , but has not pitched in a regular season
game since October 2007 due to various shoulder injuries
.
from his days at South Kyoto High School. He along with the current Hiroshima Carp
pitcher
Masayuki Hasegawa and Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Tomoki Hoshino
were dubbed the "Big Three" of their particular age group. The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) selected Saito with their first-round pick in the 1995 NPB amateur draft
.
") level in 1997, just his second year in the pros
, his development was often hindered by his proneness to injury. In particular, Saito was plagued by a chronically loose shoulder joint
, a condition so troubling for pitchers that coaches even suggested switching positions
and becoming a hitter
(as evidence of this, he was once called upon to pinch-hit
in a nigun ("minor league
" or "farm team") game, playing left field
in the next inning). However, Saito refused and insisted upon remaining a pitcher.
After undergoing surgery
on his right shoulder
and missing all of the 1998 season due to rehab
, Saito finally posted his first win
with the ichigun in 2000. He went on to win five games that season, four of which were after the All-Star break in the thick of the pennant race, but was not called upon to start in the Japan Series
when the Hawks eventually won the league
title.
Expectations were considerably higher for Saito going into the 2001 season, and many hoped that he would emerge as the Hawks' staff ace
for the future. Unfortunately, he was plagued by a mysterious pain in his shoulder and ended up sidelined for virtually all of the season, failing to record a single win. On August 10, 2002, in a game against the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
, he got his first regular season win in two years, eventually finishing the season with a 4-1 record
and a 2.94 ERA
.
called Saito out in January prior to the 2003 season, saying, "Our ace [this year] is either Saito or [current Yokohama BayStars
pitcher Hayato] Terahara." Saito was appointed the Opening Day starter for the first time in his career, taking the mound on March 28 against the Chiba Lotte Marines
. Despite having only nine career wins up until that year, Saito had a phenomenal year, going 16-0 to start the season and later becoming the first 20-game winner in the Pacific League
since Yoshinori Sato in 1985. Finishing the season with a 20-3 record, he led the league in wins and winning percentage
(.870) and was tied for first in ERA (he and Daisuke Matsuzaka
gave up the same number of earned run
s in the same number of innings, posting identical ERAs of 2.83).
That year, then-Hanshin Tigers
ace Kei Igawa
had also posted 20 wins, making it the first time since 1982 that both Japanese leagues had produced 20-game winners. Incidentally, both pitchers received the Sawamura and Best Nine
awards, making it also the first time that the Sawamura Award had ever been presented to two pitchers (one from the Central League
, the other from the Pacific) in the same year. Saito led the Hawks to a Japan Series
victory over Igawa's Tigers (the two faced each other in Game 1), marking their first championship since 1999.
started in his place). Nevertheless, he made his first start of the season on April 27 against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
, the first of a 15-game win streak that lasted until September 7 in a game against the Orix BlueWave. Not only did Saito become the first pitcher to win 15 consecutive games since Shibakuni Mashiba in 1981, he also became the first pitcher in NPB history to have multiple win streaks of 14 games or more (the first time he achieved this was in 2003). He finished the season at 16-1, leading the league in winning percentage (.941). However, he was rocked around yet again in the playoffs, failing to lead the Hawks to a league title.
that would play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
during Spring Training, instead focusing on adjusting his mechanics so that they would conform to the new rules the NPB had decided to employ regarding pitching motions
. Saito earned his first win of the season against the Marines on March 26, his third time pitching on Opening Day.
On June 8, in an interleague game against the Yomiuri Giants
, Saito pitched a one-hit
complete game
shutout
, the lone hit being an infield single
by Ryota Wakiya
. Not only that, Saito managed to pick off
Wakiya while he was leading off
of first base, facing only the minimum 27 hitters in the win in what could be described as a "semi-perfect game".
Saito had a particularly dominant month of August, pitching two shutouts en route to a 5-0 record for the month. He finished the season with an 18-5 record, 205 strikeout
s and an astonishing 1.75 ERA, thus leading the league in all three Triple Crown
categories (wins, strikeouts, ERA) as well as winning percentage and shutouts (the first pitcher since Suguru Egawa
in 1981 to lead the league in all five categories). Saito was the unanimous pick for the Sawamura Award (his second), and although the Most Valuable Player
award went to then-Fighters first baseman
Michihiro Ogasawara
, Saito actually collected more first-place votes. He also won his second Best Nine Award
.
Saito pitched in Game 1 of the first stage of the Pacific League playoffs against the Lions on October 7 and Game 2 of the second stage against the Fighters on October 12, pitching on four days' rest for the first time in six years. While he gave up just two runs in 16 2/3 combined innings, the Hawks were shut out 1-0 in both games, the former by Daisuke Matsuzaka
, the latter by Fighters left-hander Tomoya Yagi. After the Fighters scored the game-winning run
off him in the ninth inning of the latter game, Saito could no longer contain his frustration, falling to the ground in tears as teammates Julio Zuleta
and Jolbert Cabrera
helped him off the mound.
, the second straight year he was appointed Opening Day starter and the fourth time he was given that role overall. However, he took a no-decision in the loss, and struggled in the first few weeks of the season. On April 26, Saito was sent to the minors for rehab yet again, this time due to muscle fatigue
. He did not return until July 10, in a game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
, and did not put up his first win of the season until two weeks later against the Marines in the first game after the All-Star break. Following this game, the team decided to use Saito on a special schedule in which he would throw no more than 100 pitches
in one outing and get 10 days of rest in between every start. He made just 12 starts for the season, finishing with a 6-3 record and 2.74 ERA in 72 1/3 innings.
On October 8, he took the mound for Game 1 of the Climax Series (as the playoffs were now named) against the Marines. It was his tenth attempt at his first win in the playoffs (excluding the Japan Series), but he could not shut down the Marines offense and the Hawks went on to lose in the first stage yet again.
Saito spent much of January in Arizona
as part of his rehab effort, hoping to be ready in time for the upcoming regular season, but his shoulder recovery did not progress as planned. He began the regular season with the ni-gun team. Despite being with the ni-gun team, Saitoh did not pitch in 2009, leading some to wonder if his career is over.
On January 31, 2010, the Hawks announced that Saitoh would be undergoing another surgical procedure on his right rotator cuff on February 2, his third operation on the shoulder in his career. He did not pitch for the third consecutive year, although he did play catch on October 4 for the first time since January, before his surgery. Saitoh hopes to be ready for the 2011 season.
. He has an overhand drop-and-drive delivery that makes full use of his lower body, somewhat unusual for a pitcher of his height.
Saito throws a live 142 to 148 km/h (88.2 to 92 mph) four-seam fastball
that routinely reached 152 km/h (94.4 mph) in his prime as well as a splitter
, curveball
and slider
. He often uses the splitter, a pitch with a hard 12-to-6 break that has been clocked as fast as 146 km/h (90.7 mph), as his out pitch. Hiromitsu ochiai who was one of the best batter of Japanese baseball said that he is best pither of Japan and he can play and win in MLB.
Bold indicates league leader; statistics current as of 11 May 2011
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
. He is a two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award , but has not pitched in a regular season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
game since October 2007 due to various shoulder injuries
Shoulder problems
Shoulder problems including pain, are one of the more common reasons for physician visits for musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed...
.
Professional career
Saito was marked as a top prospect by NPB scoutsScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
from his days at South Kyoto High School. He along with the current Hiroshima Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Masayuki Hasegawa and Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Tomoki Hoshino
Tomoki Hoshino
is a professional Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...
were dubbed the "Big Three" of their particular age group. The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) selected Saito with their first-round pick in the 1995 NPB amateur draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
.
Early years: 1996 to 2002
While Saito made his first appearance at the ichigun (Japanese equivalent of "major leagueSports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
") level in 1997, just his second year in the pros
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
, his development was often hindered by his proneness to injury. In particular, Saito was plagued by a chronically loose shoulder joint
Glenohumeral joint
The glenohumeral joint, or shoulder joint, is a multiaxial synovial ball and socket joint and involves articulation between the glenoid fossa of the scapula and the head of the humerus...
, a condition so troubling for pitchers that coaches even suggested switching positions
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
and becoming a hitter
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
(as evidence of this, he was once called upon to pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in a nigun ("minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
" or "farm team") game, playing left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in the next inning). However, Saito refused and insisted upon remaining a pitcher.
After undergoing surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
on his right shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
and missing all of the 1998 season due to rehab
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
, Saito finally posted his first win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with the ichigun in 2000. He went on to win five games that season, four of which were after the All-Star break in the thick of the pennant race, but was not called upon to start in the Japan Series
2000 Japan Series
The 2000 Japan Series matched the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants against the Pacific League champion and defending Japan Series champion Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. The press called it the ON series because of the managers on both sides: Sadaharu Oh for the Hawks and Shigeo Nagashima for the Giants...
when the Hawks eventually won the league
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
title.
Expectations were considerably higher for Saito going into the 2001 season, and many hoped that he would emerge as the Hawks' staff ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
for the future. Unfortunately, he was plagued by a mysterious pain in his shoulder and ended up sidelined for virtually all of the season, failing to record a single win. On August 10, 2002, in a game against the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
, he got his first regular season win in two years, eventually finishing the season with a 4-1 record
Pitchers of record
Pitcher of record is a baseball term that refers to a pitcher who is credited with the win or charged with the loss in a particular game. These pitchers are known respectively as the winning and losing pitchers and collectively as the pitchers of record; thus, there are always two pitchers of...
and a 2.94 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
2003
Hawks manager Sadaharu OhSadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh, or Wang Chenchih , is a retired Japanese-Taiwanese baseball player and manager. He batted and threw left-handed and primarily played first base. Oh, who was born in Sumida, Tokyo the son of a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother, had originally signed with the powerhouse Yomiuri...
called Saito out in January prior to the 2003 season, saying, "Our ace [this year] is either Saito or [current Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
pitcher Hayato] Terahara." Saito was appointed the Opening Day starter for the first time in his career, taking the mound on March 28 against the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
. Despite having only nine career wins up until that year, Saito had a phenomenal year, going 16-0 to start the season and later becoming the first 20-game winner in the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
since Yoshinori Sato in 1985. Finishing the season with a 20-3 record, he led the league in wins and winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.870) and was tied for first in ERA (he and Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
gave up the same number of earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in the same number of innings, posting identical ERAs of 2.83).
That year, then-Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
ace Kei Igawa
Kei Igawa
is a Japanese left-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent, originally from Ōarai, Ibaraki, Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from to . He led all pitchers in the Central League for strikeouts in , and 2006...
had also posted 20 wins, making it the first time since 1982 that both Japanese leagues had produced 20-game winners. Incidentally, both pitchers received the Sawamura and Best Nine
Best Nine Award
The Best Nine Award is awarded annually to the best player at each position in both the Central League and Pacific League of Japanese professional baseball as determined by a pool of journalists.-History:...
awards, making it also the first time that the Sawamura Award had ever been presented to two pitchers (one from the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
, the other from the Pacific) in the same year. Saito led the Hawks to a Japan Series
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
victory over Igawa's Tigers (the two faced each other in Game 1), marking their first championship since 1999.
2004
Saito was appointed Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year to begin the season. However, he struggled to find his groove, struggling so much that he was sent down to the minors by mid-April. Though Saito eventually came back up and managed to record 10 wins (amidst seven losses), his season ERA of 6.26 was the worst single-season ERA by any pitcher that had thrown at least as many innings as their team had played games in Japanese professional baseball history. He was also lit up by the Lions in the second stage of the Pacific League playoffs.2005
In , despite being named the Hawks' Opening Day starter during Spring Training, recurring pains in his shoulder forced Saito to commit to rehab again (Tsuyoshi WadaTsuyoshi Wada
is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.Wada pitched in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2006 World Baseball Classic for the Japanese national team...
started in his place). Nevertheless, he made his first start of the season on April 27 against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
, the first of a 15-game win streak that lasted until September 7 in a game against the Orix BlueWave. Not only did Saito become the first pitcher to win 15 consecutive games since Shibakuni Mashiba in 1981, he also became the first pitcher in NPB history to have multiple win streaks of 14 games or more (the first time he achieved this was in 2003). He finished the season at 16-1, leading the league in winning percentage (.941). However, he was rocked around yet again in the playoffs, failing to lead the Hawks to a league title.
2006
Saito asked to have his name dropped from the selection process for the Japanese national teamJapan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
that would play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
during Spring Training, instead focusing on adjusting his mechanics so that they would conform to the new rules the NPB had decided to employ regarding pitching motions
Pitching position
In baseball, there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. Each type of pitching position has its strengths and weaknesses. Compared to the set, the windup takes a relatively slower execution, so therefore is better suited for situations in which there are no baserunners, or when...
. Saito earned his first win of the season against the Marines on March 26, his third time pitching on Opening Day.
On June 8, in an interleague game against the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
, Saito pitched a one-hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, the lone hit being an infield single
Infield hit
An infield hit is an outcome in baseball in which the batted ball stays in the infield but neither the batter nor any of the runners are put out. If the batter and the runners reach safely due to an error, it is not considered an infield hit. Runners normally only advance one base in an infield...
by Ryota Wakiya
Ryota Wakiya
is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League.-Career statistics:Statistics current as of July 22, 2011-External links:*...
. Not only that, Saito managed to pick off
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
Wakiya while he was leading off
Lead off
In baseball, the term lead off or lead-off has two distinct meanings:- On the bases :In baseball, to lead off, or to take a lead, refers to the position a baserunner takes just prior to a pitch, a short distance away from the base he occupies. A "lead" can also refer to that distance. A typical...
of first base, facing only the minimum 27 hitters in the win in what could be described as a "semi-perfect game".
Saito had a particularly dominant month of August, pitching two shutouts en route to a 5-0 record for the month. He finished the season with an 18-5 record, 205 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and an astonishing 1.75 ERA, thus leading the league in all three Triple Crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
categories (wins, strikeouts, ERA) as well as winning percentage and shutouts (the first pitcher since Suguru Egawa
Suguru Egawa
is a Japanese former pitcher and now a baseball analyst.-High school career:Egawa entered Sakushin Gakuin High School. In his high school career, he recorded two perfect games of nine no-hitters of 20 shutouts of 30 complete games in 44 games...
in 1981 to lead the league in all five categories). Saito was the unanimous pick for the Sawamura Award (his second), and although the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award went to then-Fighters first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Michihiro Ogasawara
Michihiro Ogasawara
Michihiro Ogasawara is a Japanese professional baseball player. He currently plays first base for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League . He played with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from to .-Career:Ogasawara is one of the most consistent hitters in Japanese baseball...
, Saito actually collected more first-place votes. He also won his second Best Nine Award
Best Nine Award
The Best Nine Award is awarded annually to the best player at each position in both the Central League and Pacific League of Japanese professional baseball as determined by a pool of journalists.-History:...
.
Saito pitched in Game 1 of the first stage of the Pacific League playoffs against the Lions on October 7 and Game 2 of the second stage against the Fighters on October 12, pitching on four days' rest for the first time in six years. While he gave up just two runs in 16 2/3 combined innings, the Hawks were shut out 1-0 in both games, the former by Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
, the latter by Fighters left-hander Tomoya Yagi. After the Fighters scored the game-winning run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
off him in the ninth inning of the latter game, Saito could no longer contain his frustration, falling to the ground in tears as teammates Julio Zuleta
Julio Zuleta
Julio Zuleta Tapia is a professional baseball player, most recently for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League. He graduated from the Colegio Javier in Panama City and speaks five languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and Japanese...
and Jolbert Cabrera
Jolbert Cabrera
Jolbert Alexis Cabrera [HOLE-bert kah-BRER-rah] is a Major League Baseball Utility player who is currently playing in the Mexican League. Cabrera played with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League for two years...
helped him off the mound.
2007
In , Saito took the mound for the Hawks on Opening Day (March 24) against the Orix BuffaloesOrix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
, the second straight year he was appointed Opening Day starter and the fourth time he was given that role overall. However, he took a no-decision in the loss, and struggled in the first few weeks of the season. On April 26, Saito was sent to the minors for rehab yet again, this time due to muscle fatigue
Muscle weakness
Muscle weakness or myasthenia is a lack of muscle strength. The causes are many and can be divided into conditions that have true or perceived muscle weakness...
. He did not return until July 10, in a game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,...
, and did not put up his first win of the season until two weeks later against the Marines in the first game after the All-Star break. Following this game, the team decided to use Saito on a special schedule in which he would throw no more than 100 pitches
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
in one outing and get 10 days of rest in between every start. He made just 12 starts for the season, finishing with a 6-3 record and 2.74 ERA in 72 1/3 innings.
On October 8, he took the mound for Game 1 of the Climax Series (as the playoffs were now named) against the Marines. It was his tenth attempt at his first win in the playoffs (excluding the Japan Series), but he could not shut down the Marines offense and the Hawks went on to lose in the first stage yet again.
2008-Present: Injury Woes
Saito traveled to the United States in January prior to the season to have endoscopic rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder, which had worsened over time due to accumulate fatigue. The diagnosis following the surgery revealed that he would need to sit out the entire season to rehabilitate his shoulder. Saito returned to Japan in September and announced that he would begin to work towards being able to pitch in the season opener of the following season.Saito spent much of January in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
as part of his rehab effort, hoping to be ready in time for the upcoming regular season, but his shoulder recovery did not progress as planned. He began the regular season with the ni-gun team. Despite being with the ni-gun team, Saitoh did not pitch in 2009, leading some to wonder if his career is over.
On January 31, 2010, the Hawks announced that Saitoh would be undergoing another surgical procedure on his right rotator cuff on February 2, his third operation on the shoulder in his career. He did not pitch for the third consecutive year, although he did play catch on October 4 for the first time since January, before his surgery. Saitoh hopes to be ready for the 2011 season.
Pitching style
Saito is a 192 cm (75.6 in), 96 kg (211.6 lb) right-handed power pitcherPower pitcher
In baseball, a power pitcher is a pitcher who relies on the velocity of his pitches, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of power...
. He has an overhand drop-and-drive delivery that makes full use of his lower body, somewhat unusual for a pitcher of his height.
Saito throws a live 142 to 148 km/h (88.2 to 92 mph) four-seam fastball
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
that routinely reached 152 km/h (94.4 mph) in his prime as well as a splitter
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
and slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
. He often uses the splitter, a pitch with a hard 12-to-6 break that has been clocked as fast as 146 km/h (90.7 mph), as his out pitch. Hiromitsu ochiai who was one of the best batter of Japanese baseball said that he is best pither of Japan and he can play and win in MLB.
Career statistics
| Nippon Professional Baseball | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Team | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | W% Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
GS Games started In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
SHO | IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
R Run (baseball) In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured... |
ER Earned run In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run... |
HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
K Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
WHIP Walks plus hits per inning pitched In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base... |
LgERA |
| 18 | Daiei | No appearances at major league level | 3.72 | |||||||||||||||
| 19 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27.00 | 4.50 | 3.88 | ||
| 20 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7.36 | 2.45 | 3.92 | ||
| 21 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18.00 | 1.00 | 3.90 | ||
| 22 | 5 | 2 | .714 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 89.1 | 92 | 44 | 41 | 9 | 46 | 77 | 4.13 | 1.54 | 4.40 | ||
| 23 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 22.1 | 28 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 4.43 | 1.75 | 4.37 | ||
| 24 | 4 | 1 | .800 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.1 | 53 | 24 | 23 | 4 | 21 | 63 | 2.94 | 1.05 | 3.69 | ||
| 25 | 20 | 3 | .870 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 194.0 | 174 | 62 | 61 | 19 | 66 | 160 | 2.83 | 1.24 | 4.64 | ||
| 26 | 10 | 7 | .588 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 138.0 | 139 | 100 | 96 | 22 | 59 | 120 | 6.26 | 1.43 | 4.68 | ||
| 27 | SoftBank Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were... |
16 | 1 | .941 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 157.0 | 135 | 54 | 51 | 14 | 41 | 129 | 2.92 | 1.12 | 4.06 | |
| 28 | 18 | 5 | .783 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 201.0 | 147 | 50 | 39 | 10 | 46 | 205 | 1.75 | 0.96 | 3.62 | ||
| 29 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 72.1 | 64 | 22 | 22 | 3 | 35 | 71 | 2.74 | 1.23 | 3.57 | ||
| 30 | No appearances at major league level due to injury | 3.90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 31 | 4.03 | |||||||||||||||||
| Career | 79 | 23 | .775 | 137 | 21 | 8 | 949.2 | 841 | 374 | 351 | 85 | 319 | 846 | 3.33 | 1.22 | |||
Bold indicates league leader; statistics current as of 11 May 2011